Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 22, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 September 1900 — “DEAR BOY” LETTERS—NO. 5 [ARTICLE]

“DEAR BOY” LETTERS—NO. 5

My Dear Boy—You ask why the Democrats insist that imperialism and militarism are the “paramount issues of this campaign.” The reason, my son, Is very plain. Our Democratic friends are pushing these things to the front because there isn’t anything else for them to talk about this year. All the rest of their powder has been burnt once and won’t even fizzle this year. Their platform denounces the Dingley tariff bill, but they do not wish to meet us before the people on that issue. The hard times under the Wilson bill and the present prosperity under our protective tariff furnish an object lesson which makes it uphill business to argue free trade this year, j Their platform also denounces the gold standard legislation and demands free coinage of silver at the ratio of 16 to 1» But that powder was burnt four years ago and events have shown the falsity of their predictions. They are like the boy who when beaten playing marbles says, “Let’s play something else.” Beaten on tariff and the money question, they want to play “militarism” awhile. Their lack of any other issue is responsible for the conjuring up of the spectre of “imperialism.” But while they are not talking about free trade or free silver, the people ars not going to forget that they are the free trade and free silver party. And, as Mr. Lincoln used to say, that reminds me of a little story. One of our excellent missionaries and his good wife went to an island in Polynesia about fifty years ago. They stayed there sixteen years and their work was wonderfully successful. They found * tribe of savages. They left a tribe off civilized, Christian people, industrious and temperate, “clothed and in their right minds.” The incident which illustrates my point occurred during the first year of their residence on the island. A chief clothed in sunshine and nothing else called on ths missionaries. They treated him politely, but as he left the house the missionary followed him and said: “Chief, we are glad to see you and want you to eomo again, but in my country men wear clothes and my wife is not accustomed to see men without clothing. The next time you come to see us, won’t you please put on a little clothing, one or two garments at least?” The chief promised compliance. A few days after, he entered the missionaries home with a satisfied smile on his face, saying, “Me all right now.” He had on a shirt collar and a pair of socks. My son, Mr. Bryan and his friends are badly deceived if they think that their “imperialism” collar and “militarism” socks will hide the free trade and free silver nakedness of the Democratie party from the gaze of the America* people. By the way, speaking of “militarism,’* I advise you always to watch with suspicion any man or any party that is afraid of the United States army. Our army is a volunteer army of as gallant men as the sun ever shone upon. They are our defenders and the protectors of our persons and property. Hard-work-ing. uncomplaining, brave and faithful, they follow the flag through summer’s sun and winter’s storms, through tropical jungles and the dangers of fever and of battle for you and me and for their country’s sake, If a man is a good, lawabiding citizen he has no reason to be afraid of an American soldier. I was one, my father was one, my grandfather was one, and my greatgrandfather was one, and I feel like taking off my bat to every soldier I meet. And whenever I find a man who is afraid of the “tyranny” of our gallant little army, I feel like asking him what he has been doing. It is a small army for so great a nation, and the introduction of "militarism” in this campaign shows that our Democrdutic friends ar* bard up for an issue. YOUR FATHER.